asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the shortage of blood for use in Scottish hospitals due to the difficulty of getting blood donors to give time, when industry is working a three-day week.

Blood supplies are at their normal level at this time of the year after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Few blood withdrawal sessions at factories have had to be cancelled and any loss in blood donations has been made up by donors attending other nearby sessions or the regional transfusion centres.